Commercial Brick Veneer Systems in Orlando, FL

Superior Masonry Orlando installs commercial brick veneer systems in Orlando, FL for offices, retail centers, and institutional buildings. We work with engineered veneer anchors, insulation, and air barriers to create efficient, attractive façades. Our crews deliver consistent coursing, weeps, and flashing details that help protect the building envelope.

Superior Masonry Orlando provides professional commercial brick veneer throughout Orlando, FL, Florida and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (689) 220-1534 or request your free quote.

Commercial Brick Veneer Systems for Orlando Businesses

Commercial brick veneer gives Orlando properties the traditional brick look without the weight and cost of full structural masonry. At Superior Masonry Orlando, we design and install systems that work with our local climate, building codes, and the types of commercial buildings you actually see around Central Florida.

In practical terms, a commercial brick veneer system is a non-load-bearing brick “skin” installed on a structural backup wall such as concrete block (CMU), tilt-wall concrete, or steel stud framing with sheathing. The brick carries its own weight on a support angle or shelf angle, and the building frame carries the structural loads. This lets you get a durable brick exterior on retail plazas, medical offices, multifamily buildings, hotels, and school or church facilities without a full-thickness brick wall.

Because we work across Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, and the I-4 corridor, we are used to tying into a mix of existing CMU block, older stucco on block, and newer metal stud curtain walls. Every project starts with a site visit to see what your existing structure is, how water currently drains, and where we can anchor ledgers and brick ties safely. That local, on-site evaluation shapes everything that follows, from the type of anchors we use to the layout of expansion joints.

How We Design and Build Your Brick Veneer System

Our commercial brick veneer process is structured so business owners and GCs know exactly what is happening at each step.

1) Site review and existing wall assessment: We inspect your existing CMU, concrete, or framed wall, looking for cracks, spalls, out-of-plumb conditions, or rusted embeds. On older Orlando strip centers we frequently find hairline block cracks and patched stucco that need to be stabilized before we add veneer.

2) System design and details: Working from your architectural plans or starting from scratch, Superior Masonry Orlando lays out the veneer thickness, brick size, bond pattern, and control joint locations. We coordinate shelf angles, brick ledges, and movement joints with the structural engineer so the veneer can move slightly without cracking when the building expands in the heat.

3) Moisture and air barrier: In Central Florida, moisture management is non-negotiable. We install a compatible air and water barrier over sheathing or CMU, then integrate through-wall flashing and weep vents at base courses, window heads, and shelf angles. This creates a drainage cavity behind the brick, so wind-driven rain has a way out instead of soaking insulation or interior finishes.

4) Support and anchoring: For mid-rise commercial brick veneer, we use hot-dip galvanized or stainless steel shelf angles bolted to the structure at each floor line or at engineered intervals. Adjustable brick ties and anchors are then installed in a grid pattern, with spacing based on wind loads and veneer height. In Orlando, we design for hurricane wind pressures, which means careful attention to anchor type and embedment depth.

5) Brick installation and finishing: Our crews lay brick to the specified pattern, joint profile, and color range, constantly checking plumb and line. We tool joints at the right timing for dense, weather-resistant mortar and clean the face carefully to avoid etching or lightening the brick. On active sites like shopping centers that stay open during construction, we phase work and set up barricades so customers can safely access your business.

Material Options, Brick Patterns, and Design Choices

Commercial brick veneer does not have to look like every other red box along Colonial Drive. Superior Masonry Orlando helps you customize the veneer to match your brand, neighborhood guidelines, or an existing campus.

Brick types: We work with clay modular brick, oversized utility brick for faster coverage on big box facades, thin brick that installs in prefabricated panels, and glazed or accent brick for entry features. In the Orlando area, many owners choose warm earth tones and blends that complement stucco and metal panels, instead of a single solid color.

Mortar and joint options: Mortar color and joint style dramatically change the look of commercial brick veneer. A light mortar creates strong contrast and a more traditional look, while darker mortar can make a veneer feel more modern and minimize the appearance of joints. We commonly use tooled concave joints for water resistance in our rainy climate, but can also install raked or flush joints for specific design intents where detailing allows.

Patterns and accents: Even on large warehouse or retail facades, small details keep the building from feeling flat. We often integrate soldier courses at window heads, rowlock sills, projected brick bands, or vertical pilasters in contrasting brick. On multifamily projects near downtown, we might combine brick veneer on the first two stories with stucco or fiber cement above, so the street level feels substantial while the upper floors stay lighter and more economical.

Compatibility with other claddings: Many Orlando projects combine commercial brick veneer with EIFS, stucco, metal panels, or fiber cement. We pay close attention to where these materials meet, since dissimilar materials move at different rates. Proper backer rods, sealant joints, and flashing transitions at these intersections are part of our standard detailing so you do not inherit leak problems later.

Costs, Timelines, and What Affects Your Investment

The cost of commercial brick veneer in Orlando varies, but you can understand the main drivers before you request a bid.

Height and access: Veneer on a single-story retail shell with easy lift access costs less per square foot than veneer on a 6-story hotel that requires scaffolding, swing stages, or mast climbers. The higher we go, the more time and equipment we need, and hurricane wind design also becomes more critical.

Structure and prep work: If your existing CMU is sound and fairly true, we can anchor directly after installing the air barrier and flashing. If the wall is out of plumb, has spalling, or lacks proper bearing for shelf angles, we may need concrete repairs, shimming, or new embeds. These conditions are common on older cinder block buildings around Orange County and should be checked early so they can be budgeted correctly.

Material selections: Standard modular clay brick in common colors is typically more economical and faster to source. Custom colors, glazed brick, or highly textured faces raise material costs and sometimes extend lead times. Stainless steel anchors, which we often recommend for coastal or high-exposure projects, cost more than galvanized but can be worth it for long-term durability.

Moisture details and code requirements: Detailed air and water barriers, multiple flashing levels, and higher wind-load anchors all add small incremental costs, but in our climate they significantly reduce future maintenance and leak issues. We design to meet Florida Building Code, local wind speed maps, and energy code requirements, which influences our overall system selection and pricing.

Schedule: For planning, many commercial shells see veneer progress in the range of several hundred square feet per mason per day, depending on complexity and weather. We sequence work with other trades, especially window installers and waterproofing crews, so penetrations and terminations are handled correctly the first time.

Local Issues, Common Problems, and How We Prevent Them

Orlando’s heat, humidity, and sudden afternoon storms create very specific challenges for commercial brick veneer. Superior Masonry Orlando structures every project to deal with those issues before they become warranty calls.

Water intrusion and staining: The most common veneer problems we see on existing buildings are efflorescence (white salts), dark moisture bands above window heads, and leaks where brick meets stucco or metal panels. Our approach includes continuous flashing with proper end dams at these transitions, open head joint weeps or rope wicks at the base of walls and over openings, and correctly lapped air barrier membranes. When we do retrofits, we often open small inspection areas behind the veneer to confirm that water has a path to exit.

Movement and cracking: Florida’s temperature swings and concrete shrinkage can cause hairline veneer cracks if movement joints were not planned. On new work, we space vertical control joints based on veneer length, corner locations, and window groupings. On existing facades, we can sometimes sawcut joints and retrofit sealant to relieve stress where cracks are already forming.

Impact and wind resistance: For buildings in open exposures or near the coast, we select anchors that meet higher wind uplift and suction requirements. We also reinforce corners and parapets, which are the most vulnerable zones during storms. Orlando is inland, but many projects must still meet strict uplift pressures due to mapped wind speeds, particularly for schools, medical buildings, and essential facilities.

Maintenance expectations: Properly installed commercial brick veneer needs relatively low maintenance, but not zero. We advise owners to plan for periodic sealant replacement at control joints and cladding transitions, inspection and cleaning of weeps at grade, and gentle cleaning methods when dirt or biological growth appears. When we turn over a project, we provide basic maintenance recommendations tailored to the specific brick and mortar used on your building.